COEUR d'ALENE, Idaho – The Western Washington University women's golf team closed out the 2023-24 season with one of its best performances finishing in 2nd place at the GNAC Championships at Coeur d'Alene Golf Resort.

 

WWU completed the two-day, 36-hole tournament at 34-over-par 610, capping the championships with all five players shooting in the 70s in Tuesday's final round. The Vikings trailed tournament champion Simon Fraser by 14 strokes to earn runner-up honors.

 

"I am proud of the team's performance in the tournament and how they played in the final round giving them a chance to compete for the title. Simon Fraser played great golf to win the team title," said WWU Director of Golf Luke Bennett. "The team had a nice finish to the spring season which I think will springboard them into next year with a great trio of players returning in Emma, Kasey and Lauren. I want to thank Dani and Claire for all they gave to the program over the last few years. It was great to see them both finish with strong rounds today to close out their collegiate career."

 

Sophomore Emma Worgum was in the hunt all day for the tournament individual title eventually finishing in 2nd place at even-par 144 with rounds of 69 (-3) and 75 (+3). This marks the second consecutive runner-up finish for Worgum to complete the 2023-24 season, also placing 2nd at the Sonoma State Spring Invitational. Worgum led all players in the tournament with 10 birdies, including six on Monday and five in the final round.

 

"Emma was just rock solid all tournament – and really all spring – and it was so great to see her back up her great round yesterday with a solid showing today," said Bennett. "She was right there toward the end of the round and give it a great ride. I am proud of how she handled the pressure and I have no doubt she will win one of these before her college career is done."

 

The Vikings final-round performance was highlighted by all five players scoring in the 70s on the par 72 layout.

 

Sophomore Lauren Lee paced the final round scores with a 2-over-par 72, followed by Worgum's 3-over-par 75 and a 6-over-par 78 by senior Claire Moon.

 

WWU had four total players finish inside the top 10 in the 25-player field, with sophomore Kasey Maralack (T-6th, +10), Lee (9th, +11) and senior Dani Bailey (T-10th, +14) all helping lift the Vikings to the 2nd-place team finish.

 

SFU set the 36-hole tournament record with a 20-over-par 596 to earn their second consecutive GNAC Championships team title. Freshman Dana Smith won individual medalist honors with a tournament record 2-under-par 142, overcoming Worgum's lead to open the day by firing a 2-under-par 70 in the final round.

 

The Vikings finished 28 strokes of third-place Northwest Nazarene (+62, 638). Saint Martin's placed 4th (+73, 649) and Montana State Billings rounded out the tournament field in 5th place (+104, 680).

 

Here is a look at WWU's individual results and the team leaderboard from the 2024 GNAC Women's Golf Championships at the Coeur d'Alene Golf Resort:

 

 

The Vikings have won seven of the 13 GNAC Women's Golf Championships since the event debuted in 2011. WWU won five consecutive conference championships from 2011-15 and returned to the top spot on the podium winning back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022. 

 

Championships Quick Facts:

Course: Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course

Location: Coeur d'Alene, ID

Championships Format: 36 Holes (18 on Monday, 18 on Tuesday)

Par: 72   Yardage: 5,801 Yards

Teams (5): WWU, Simon Fraser, Saint Martin's, Montana State Billings, Northwest Nazarene

Field Size: 25

 

GNAC Tournament History:

36-Hole Total - 142, Dana Smith, SFU, 72-70 (April 22-23, 2024)

Single Round - 69, Emma Worgum, WWU (April 22, 2024) & Belinda Lin, SFU (April 23, 2019)

36-Hole Total, Team - 596, Simon Fraser (April 22-23, 2024)

Single Round, Team - 294, Simon Fraser (April 23, 2019)

 

GNAC Team Champions:

2011 - Western Washington (620)

2012 - Western Washington (631)

2013 - Western Washington (625)

2014 - Western Washington (641)

2015 - Western Washington (627)

2016 - Simon Fraser (617)

2017 - Simon Fraser (616)

2018 - Concordia (611)

2019 - Simon Fraser (613)

2020 - No Tournament (COVID-19)

2021 - Western Washington (627)

2022 - Western Washington (615)

2023 - Simon Fraser (609)

2024 - Simon Fraser (596)

 

Courses: 2011-2019, 2022: Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course; 2021: The Home Course * 36-hole tournament

 

GNAC Individual Champions:

2011 - Sophie Elstrott, Western Washington - 150 (75-75)

2012 - Claire Rachor, Western Washington - 153 (77-76)

2013 - Kara Zitzman, Western Washington - 151 (75-76)

2014 - Anna Bourland, Western Washington - 156 (78-78)

2015 - Kristen Hansen, Western Washington - 152 (76-76)

2016 - Michelle Waters, Simon Fraser - 151 (74-77)

2017 - Emily Leung, Simon Fraser -147 (70-77)

2018 - Caitlyn Villatora, Concordia - 149 (74-75)

2019 - Lacy Overstreet, Western Washington - 145 (73-72)

2020 - No Tournament (COVID-19)

2021 - Kathryn Crimp, Saint Martin's - 153 (77-76)

2022 - Elise Sumner, Western Washington - 149 (76-73)

2023 - Ashley Bruland, Saint Martin's - 145 (72-73)

2024 - Dana Smith, Simon Fraser - 142 (72-70)

 

Here is a look at the Vikings 2023-24 tournament schedule for the WWU Women's Golf program. All tournament recaps, season statistics and program history can be found on WWUVikings.com/WGolf.

 

 

The WWU women's golf team is in its 31st season as an intercollegiate sport in 2023-24. WWU has a rich history on the links, winning the first five GNAC Championships beginning in 2011 and returned to the podium with back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022. WWU made its 12th appearance in the NCAA II West Regional Championships in 2022 after earning the GNAC's automatic bid. WWU has also made six trips to the NCAA II National Championships. A Viking has been named the GNAC Player of the Year in nine of the 12 years it has been awarded, including 2021-22 award winner Megan Billeter. WWU has also produced the only two players in GNAC history to earn four First Team All-GNAC awards (Jenn Paul and Kristen Hansen) and has had nine All-Americans.